法苑珠林 91.72

91.72

The Earl of the state of Du under the Zhou was named Chang, and was a Grand Master of the Zhou. King Xuan's concubine was named Nüjiu; she wished to have illicit relations with him, but the Earl of Du refused. Nüjiu accused him, saying to King Xuan: 'Chang has secretly had relations with me.' King Xuan believed her, imprisoned the Earl of Du in Jiao, and sent Xue Fu and Director of Works Qi to kill the Earl of Du. His friend Zuo Ru remonstrated nine times, but the King would not listen; Zuo Ru died for him. After the Earl of Du died, he manifested in human form and appeared to the King, saying: 'What was Chang's crime?' The King summoned the ritual invocator and told him the Earl of Du's words. The invocator asked: 'When the Earl of Du was first put to death, who plotted it with the King?' The King said: 'The Director of Works Qi.' The invocator said: 'Why not kill Qi to appease him?' King Xuan thereupon killed Qi and sent the invocator to appease the Earl of Du with him. The Earl of Du still came in human form, declaring his innocence. The Director of Works Qi also came in human form, saying: 'What crime did your subject commit?' King Xuan told Huangfu: 'The invocator plotted with me to kill someone, and those I killed have both appeared in human form. What should be done?' Huangfu said: 'Kill the invocator to appease them.' King Xuan thereupon killed the invocator to appease both of them, yet this was also of no avail; they all came in human form. The invocator also said: 'How could I have known this? How can you hold this as a crime and kill your subject?' Three years later, [the King] went hunting in Putian, with attendants filling the fields. At midday, the Earl of Du rode a white horse in white clothing, with the Director of Works Qi on his left and the invocator on his right, wearing red robes and red caps. Arising from the left of the road, he drew a red bow and a red arrow, and shot King Xuan, striking his heart and breaking his spine. [The King] fell prostrate upon the bow-case and died.